DALLAS (AP) — A hard and tight victory as the Dallas Cowboys over the New York Giants kept Dak Prescott and company out of crisis mode for the time being.

The Cowboys did the same thing twice last season en route to a third straight 12-win season and a trip to the playoffs. It remains to be seen how the latest nail-biting victory translates.

Dallas (2-2) will get extra rest after its 20-15 win over the Giants before heading to Pittsburgh on Oct. 6 for another primetime game clouded by questions about the health of Star Pass Rusher Micah Parsons.

“I think we’re doing a really good job internally of focusing on what we do every day,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “I think sometimes our guys give honest answers to questions from external parties and sometimes things are said that don’t really reflect what it is like internally.”

After consecutive home losses to New Orleans and Baltimore with big deficits in the first half and little resistance from the defense, Prescott wasn’t alone in questioning the team’s professionalism, focus and practice habits.

The star quarterback’s thirteenth straight win over the Giants wasn’t necessarily brilliant.

But it was similar to last season’s 20-17 win at the Los Angeles Chargers, a week after another trip to California ended with a blowout loss in San Francisco. And a 20-19 win at home against Detroit late in the season after the Cowboys lost consecutive road games to Buffalo and Miami.

Granted, Dallas got a gift in the final seconds against the Lions when the officials nullified a two-point conversion by Detroit that should have counted.

The Cowboys didn’t apologize then, and they won’t apologize now.

“Huge, especially when you compare it to the alternative,” Prescott said. “What that would have been like.”

Next on the list of important things after the win for Dallas is the status of Parsons’ left ankle, which was injured in the fourth quarter when the two-time All-Pro said someone fell on him while he was planting his leg.

Parsons is considered week-to-week with a high ankle sprain, while fellow pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence could be out longer after spraining his left foot against the Giants, two people with knowledge of the injuries said Friday. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details of the injuries have not been released.

What works

The offense’s efficiency has remained fairly steady through the wild ups and downs of the first few weeks. While the Cowboys kept the Giants out of the end zone, they had trouble stopping drives. So that means Prescott’s crew did well with the time they had.

Prescott was 22 of 27 for 221 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and one sack. The Cowboys scored a touchdown on their only trip inside the 20-yard line.

CeeDee Lamb had a 55-yard scoring catch four days after sideline play in a 28-25 loss to Baltimore with the All-Pro receiver essentially apologizing.

“We have to stay pros,” Prescott said. “You don’t do that when you win and that’s my point about (how) we don’t get overly excited or hopefully the guys don’t listen to anything that’s being written about, good or bad.”

What needs help

Things are going to be a little tough for Dallas at cornerback due to injuries.

Andrew Booth, acquired in a trade with Minnesota late in the preseason, was the choice to fill in for rookie Caelen Carson, but was beaten badly several times in the first half and benched after the break. Carson was inactive with a shoulder injury.

Booth was a 2022 second-round pick who never blossomed for the Vikings, and things don’t look promising for the Cowboys either. Amani Oruwariye, named from the practice squad before the game, replaced Booth and had a final-second seal of victory.

DaRon Bland, who set an NFL record with five interceptions for touchdowns last season, is eligible to return from injured reserve after surgery late in the preseason for a stress fracture in his foot. The Cowboys hoped he would be ready for the Steelers.

Stock up

The run defense rebounded from a brutal pair of games to hold the Giants to 26 yards rushing and 1.1 yards per carry. Sophomore defensive tackle Mazi Smith finally showed some promise with a tackle for loss, one of six for the Cowboys.

Stock down

LT Tyler Guyton was called for holding three times as the Cowboys finished with 11 penalties for 89 yards. Officials had to choose between imposing penalties when C Cooper Beebe and LG Tyler Smith were flagged on the same play. The common denominator is youth. Smith is in his third season, while Guyton and Beebe are rookies.

Injuries

Parsons and Lawrence are the two most talented pass rushers for Dallas. An extended absence from either will be a concern. … Diggs had to leave the game against the Giants with cramps and was treated for dehydration. He is also not expected to miss any time.

Key number

16 — That’s the final count for K Brandon Aubrey’s NFL record for consecutive field goals of at least 50 yards to start a career. After hitting a 60-yarder in the first half, the 29-year-old missed in the final minute of 51 in his second season.

Next steps

The Cowboys last visited Pittsburgh in 2016, when Prescott was in the midst of leading them on an 11-game winning streak. He was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year that season.

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AP N.F.L.: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL